1 High-Yield Dividend Stock I'd Buy Before ConocoPhillips in 2026

Core Viewpoint - 2025 has been challenging for energy stocks, with oil prices at four-year lows and ConocoPhillips experiencing an 8.5% decline in stock price year to date [1][2] Company Overview - ConocoPhillips is the most valuable U.S. exploration and production (E&P) company by market capitalization, focusing on onshore production in the U.S. [2] - The company is recognized as a top upstream oil and gas stock for 2026 due to its operational efficiency and strategic acquisitions [4] Financial Performance - In the most recent quarter, ConocoPhillips reported an average realized price per barrel of oil equivalent (boe) of $46.44, down from $54.18 per boe in Q3 2024 [5] - For the first nine months of 2025, ConocoPhillips generated $15.55 billion in cash from operations, funded $9.5 billion in capital expenditures, repurchased $4 billion in stock, paid $3 billion in dividends, and retired $700 million in debt [6] Future Projections - The company anticipates $7 billion in incremental free cash flow (FCF) from 2025 to 2029, with $1 billion expected each year from 2026 to 2028, and a ramp-up in 2029 as the Willow Project in Alaska comes online [7] - ConocoPhillips expects its FCF breakeven to decline to the low $30 per barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil by the end of the decade, positioning the company for top-quartile dividend growth relative to the S&P 500 [8] Competitive Positioning - ConocoPhillips's elite upstream portfolio enables it to generate free cash flow even in low oil and gas price environments, making it a strong contender for value investors [9]